Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Natural Selection and Adaptation01:15

Natural Selection and Adaptation

317
Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations,...
317
Human Genetics01:28

Human Genetics

703
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
703
Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs01:23

Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs

492
Behavior genetics explores how genetic inheritance influences human behavior. It focuses on how genes, passed from parents to offspring, contribute to the development of behavioral traits and tendencies. This branch of genetics seeks to understand the complex interplay between inherited genetic factors and environmental influences in shaping our behaviors.
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
492
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

6.7K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
6.7K
Gene-Environment Interactions01:20

Gene-Environment Interactions

425
Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
425
Genetic Drift03:33

Genetic Drift

40.6K
Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.
40.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Reply to MacColl: Repeated evolution from standing genetic variation.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Nutritional adaptation in the marine to freshwater establishment process - how do diet and genotype shape phenotype?

The Journal of experimental biology·2026
Same author

Inferring the strength of directional selection on armor plates in Lake Washington stickleback while accounting for migration and drift.

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2025
Same author

A mosaic of modular variation at a single gene underpins convergent plumage coloration.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2025
Same author

A species interaction kick-starts ecological speciation in allopatry.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

Hi-reComb: constructing recombination maps from bulk gamete Hi-C sequencing.

Genetics·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 4, 2025

Visualizing Visual Adaptation
04:43

Visualizing Visual Adaptation

Published on: April 24, 2017

9.1K

Genetics of adaptation.

Kirsten Bomblies1, Catherine L Peichel2

  • 1Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|July 20, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Modern genomic methods identify genetic changes underlying adaptation. Studying these adaptive loci across biological levels reveals new insights into the genetic architecture of evolution.

Keywords:
adaptationevolutionevolutionary biochemistrygeneticspopulation genetics

More Related Videos

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

1.0K
Procedure for Adaptive Laboratory Evolution of Microorganisms Using a Chemostat
06:03

Procedure for Adaptive Laboratory Evolution of Microorganisms Using a Chemostat

Published on: September 20, 2016

14.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 4, 2025

Visualizing Visual Adaptation
04:43

Visualizing Visual Adaptation

Published on: April 24, 2017

9.1K
Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

1.0K
Procedure for Adaptive Laboratory Evolution of Microorganisms Using a Chemostat
06:03

Procedure for Adaptive Laboratory Evolution of Microorganisms Using a Chemostat

Published on: September 20, 2016

14.6K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary genetics
  • Genomics
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • Mendelian genetics explains heredity via discrete genes.
  • The Modern Synthesis integrated Mendelian genetics with natural selection.
  • Genomic advances enable identification of genes and mutations under selection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize current understanding of the genetic architecture of adaptation.
  • To explore how genomic methods have advanced the study of natural selection.
  • To connect genetic variants to phenotypic variation and adaptive evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing advances in genomic methods to identify loci under selection.
  • Connecting identified genetic variants to phenotypic variation.
  • Analyzing adaptive loci within cellular, genomic, organismal, and population contexts.

Main Results:

  • An expanding list of genetic changes underlying adaptive phenotypic variation is available.
  • Genomic approaches allow examination of loci under selection, then linking them to phenotypes.
  • New insights into the genetic architecture of adaptation have emerged.

Conclusions:

  • Genomic methods have revolutionized the study of adaptation.
  • Understanding adaptive loci in various biological contexts is crucial for evolutionary insights.
  • The genetic basis of adaptation is increasingly understood through molecular and population-level studies.